Above an endless range of perilous mountains, a winged creature soared through the mist and clouds.
Zooming in for a closer look, the creature resembled a cross between a bird and a dragon. On its back sat a person, against whom the high-altitude winds, sharp as blades and pounding like countless fists, struck relentlessly yet failed to sway his posture.
That person was Ging. The magical beast dragon beneath him was the one entrusted by Law.
"So, he's going 'there' now."
Ging lowered his head to look at the message on his phone screen and let out a soft sigh.
As the howling, fierce wind whistled past his ears, he raised his gaze toward the majestic mountains hidden within the clouds, but his thoughts drifted to that vast, boundless world.
…
In a tranquil, lush, and densely forested area, a narrow, winding path trodden by human feet led to a house overgrown with vines.
The courtyard was filled with flowers, plants, and trees vying for brilliance, under the shade of a pergola.
Beneath it, an old chair held an elderly woman seated comfortably.
A well-dressed butler walked over slowly and handed her a phone.
The elderly woman took the phone, slightly parting her narrowed eyes to read the short line of text displayed on the screen.
A moment later, she let out a soft chuckle, slowly tilted her head back, and gazed through the gaps in the pergola directly at the sky, murmuring to herself, "I will wait."
Nearby, the butler served her a cup of finely aged tea, steaming with a delicate fragrance, its lingering aroma still palpable.
…
At Chirp City, to the left surged the roaring river tides, to the right was a beautifully landscaped park, and in between stretched a pedestrian path.
Machi's long hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she wore a light blue tracksuit that outlined her delicate curves.
Her gaze was calm and focused ahead, her hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket as she walked slowly along the path, the sound of the river tides echoing in her ears.
Buzz. Buzz.
Her pocket vibrated lightly.
Machii took out her phone, glanced at it, pursed her thin lips slightly, and turned her head to look at the churning tides to her left. After a long silence, she dialed a number to call back.
No one answered.
She gently clenched her phone, silently returned it to her pocket, and gazed at the river tides for a long time without saying a word.
…
In a snow-white room filled with a variety of instruments, people in white coats moved about busily, their hurried steps highlighting the bustling atmosphere.
A woman dressed in tightly covered clothing, revealing only her dark eyes, went unnoticed amid the busy crowd.
With a gloved hand, she gently picked up a glass test tube, brought it to her eyes for a close look, and a faint trace of weariness flashed in her gaze.
Leaving this room led to a spacious corridor. Walking straight ahead and passing through three doors brought one to a dedicated changing room lined with numerous lockers.
Beep. Beep.
A small phone in one of the lockers vibrated briefly. A moment later, the screen lit up, faintly illuminating the inside of the locker.
In the dim light, a photo was visible.
It showed a handsome black-haired young man with a radiant smile, leaning next to a woman dressed in covered clothing, her eyes smiling.
…
A white pigeon flapped its wings frantically, its feathers fluttering down in clusters.
Upon closer look, it turned out that its feet were pinched by the toes of a white-haired old man.
They were on the rooftop of a tall building, where the early spring sunlight was mildly warm and comfortable. The old man lay sprawled on the ground, yawning out of boredom.
Tap, tap, tap…
Hurried footsteps echoed from the stairwell. A bean-shaped man ran out from the top floor, quickly approached the old man, and looked helplessly at the struggling pigeon that couldn't break free.
"Chairman, isn't that Cluck's pigeon?" Beans asked, looking at Netero with resignation.
"Oh, is that so?"
Netero lazily replied.
Beans rubbed his forehead, took out his phone from his clothes, and handed it to Netero, saying, "It's a message from Law."
Netero glanced at it and raised an eyebrow.
Flutter.
The white pigeon finally broke free and flew into the sky, heading in a certain direction.
…
The 16th Floor of the Association.
"That brat has slipped away again!"
Sabro, overwhelmed with work, roared in frustration.
"Quiet."
Salin, who was immersed in her book, suddenly looked up and glared at Sabro with a warning look.
"…"
Sabro's heart sank, wondering why he was the only one busy.
"Where's Buhara?"
Salin calmly replied, "I heard there's a food festival. He went to participate."
After a pause, she corrected herself, "He went to eat."
"…"
…
On the vast, boundless blue sea, a ship cut through the waves.
On the deck, Tonpa faced the sea breeze, practicing his Nen Ability.
Law hadn't told him where the ship was headed, but he wasn't foolish. The large amount of fuel stored on board indicated they were going somewhere far away, perhaps even beyond his imagination.
No matter how much he wanted to disembark, he knew it was just a futile thought.
So, to prepare for the potentially dangerous journey ahead, he couldn't waste any time and had to devote himself entirely to training.
Law sat at the highest point, gazing silently at the distant horizon.
Tap, tap.
Footsteps approached.
Biscuit walked over and sat beside him, her fair, lotus-like legs swaying in the air.
After boarding the ship, she had swapped her favorite princess dress for a highly resilient combat outfit, fully preparing for the journey ahead.
"I really want to dive deep into the ocean and see what's down there."
As Biscuit sat beside him, Law let out a sigh and muttered something almost like a dreamy whisper.
Biscuit rolled her eyes at him, "I can give you a lift. I can get you to a depth of a thousand meters in five seconds, no problem."
Grab and throw… that was her method of 'giving a lift'.
"No thanks."
Law chuckled awkwardly.
In the captain's cabin, Kuro was enjoying a large meal while keeping an eye on the navigation.
If a professional captain were there, they would've been shocked to see a cat steering the ship.
The International Permit Agencies would never allow any ship to cross the boundary of the world's seas. However, the endless stream of stowaways and smuggling methods made it impossible for the Agency to completely prevent such activities.
Every officially manufactured sea vessel was recorded in the Agency's database, and its course could be monitored at any time to prevent boundary-crossing, smuggling, and other criminal activities.
However, for every measure, there was a countermeasure.
Smugglers who used 'hidden compartments' were caught in droves, yet a complete underground production line still thrived in the shadows.
The enormous profits drove people to take risks. While Ellie didn't engage in those shady activities, she had still used a 'hidden compartment' to help Law build a ship that could evade the Agency's surveillance.
Thanks to this, the Lawlie sailed smoothly, perfectly avoiding the Agency's defenses. After four weeks, it finally crossed the Far Ocean Boundary, and the Imaginary Continent came into view in the distance.
Law took out a high-powered telescope, held it to his eye, and observed the clear coastline of the Imaginary Continent.
After a moment of silence, he ordered Kuro to change course and avoid the Imaginary Continent.
The voyage had been calm so far, and with food supplies and fuel still plentiful, there was no need to restock.
Beyond the imaginary continent lay the most dangerous of all… the Dark Waters!